Three New Additions To My Desk

-
Image
Actually, it’s an ad-duck-tion. I missed the perfect opportunity to say, “and they’re in a row, too!” Silly goose. 
-

“An Old Kind of Christian, A Jesus Kind of Christian”

I just listened to an incredible archived chapel message by Dr. Danny Akin of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (http://www.sebts.edu/). I believe the notes (below) are comprehensive enough:

************


We have new theological “neighbors” moving into our “neighborhood”, and compared to the way we like to “keep house”, these “neighbors” seem strange. We should not grow so accustomed to seeing them that we ignore them. The father of our new “neighborhood family” is Brian McClaren, and many of his “family” members believe we need to “repaint” the Christian faith.


What we need is not a new kind of Christian, but an old kind of Christian, a Jesus kind of Christian. Jonathan Edwards asked a question and we should pay close attention to the answer: “What is it that makes the church like heaven?” The answer: love.


I Corinthians 13:1-13


  1. Love is essential (vv. 1-3). Jesus made it clear that the mark of a disciple is “love for one another.” Paul, following Jesus, makes it clear:

    1. It does not matter what you say. (v. 1) If love does not accompany what you say, you are a making the same noise as popular instruments of pagan temples! Without love, your words don’t matter.

    2. It does not matter what you know (v. 2). Note the comprehensive aspects of love:

      1. The word “love” is used 9 times in this passage;

      2. The word “all” is used 8 times.

      3. Without love you are nothing.

        1. Love must temper knowledge;

        2. Love builds up, specifically His kingdom.

    3. It does not matter what you do (v. 3). Without love, there is no profit.

      1. Anything you do to buy love is a form of prostitution.

      2. If your spirituality is without love, you are bankrupt.

  2. Love is expressive (vv. 4-8).

    1. Note the words in this section:

      1. All the words Paul uses to describe love are verbs;

      2. All the verbs Paul uses are in the present tense. This means that these verbs should be the habit of your life. You must be consistent, because we know we are not able to do it perfect.

    2. There must be a proper perspective:

      1. Inward perspective:

        1. Patient, longsuffering—just like Jesus. To do this, God must make your suffering long. This word for patience is used only in the context of relationships, not circumstances.

        2. Kind. How do you treat people beneath you? This word is in the context of your attitude when you have the opportunity to have the advantage.

        3. No envy. No inferiority complex (jealousy). You will not be happy with what you envy because you will always want more and blame God for holding out. Envy does not believe God.

        4. Does not puff up. No superiority complex (bragging, arrogant). Love is not a peacock, telling God how lucky He is to have us and how much we are a blessing to others.

      2. Outward perspective

        1. v.5. Love has manners, grace, respect for others.

        2. Love does not seek itself, does not begin or start with itself. Where you start depends on where you go, it takes care of others.

        3. Love is not provoked, does not have a quick fuse, is not easily angered. This is the destroyer of ministry. Bad temper is outside the walk of the Spirit!

        4. Keeps no record of wrong, no evil thoughts. Love forgives, even though it still remembers. God only forgives on the basis of the blood of His Son. [What do you think is meant when the Psalmist says God drops our sin in the sea of forgetfulness? Does God forget when He looks at His Son?]

      3. Upward perspective (v. 6)

        1. Love hates sin;

        2. Love rejoices in truth, which means love believes truth exists and can be known.

      4. Forward perspective (v. 7).

        1. Looks to the future. Love does not quit, not an emotion but a decision to press on.

        2. Love is not blind but looks for the best in others.

  3. Love is never-ending (v. 8-13)

    1. Love will outlive spiritual gifts. v.10 refers to the eschaton, love will still remain.

    2. Love will outlast spiritual growth. (vv. 11-12)

    3. Love will outshine spiritual graces

      1. Faith will become sight;

      2. Hope will become reality;

      3. Love keeps going. Why?

        1. God is not faith;

        2. God is not hope;

        3. God is love.


Assignment:

  1. Read through vv. 4-8, removing the word “love” and replace with the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

  2. Read through the same verses again and see how much you need Him to be love for you toward others.

Popular posts from this blog

“Men and women who saw God in the Bible: Why did they not all die?”

-
July 2004 I went to Kenya, Africa to speak in two Pastor’s Conferences on the subject of Man, Sin and Salvation. At the end of each day I left just over an hour for questions (half the time were questions touching the subject of my lectures, and the other half for “open questions”; that is, people could ask anything). For the next few weeks, I will be sharing the questions that were asked of me, and my answers—and believe me when I say these people really know how to think! Question from Kenya #1: “Men and women who saw God in the Bible: Why did they not all die?” [“ But He said, ‘You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live! ’” (Exodus 33:20) was the basis of the student’s question]. Answer: First, consider those who did see God—how did they respond when they saw Him? They were instantly aware of their sinfulness, and God’s holiness and righteousness (to name a few. And notice also that each responded in an attitude of worship, bowing down): Abraham built altars, wors
Read more

A Sonnet

-
“My God, where is that ancient heat towards thee, Wherewith whole shoals of martyrs once did burn, Besides their other flames? Doth poetry Wear Venus' livery? only serve her turn? Why are not sonnets made of thee? and lays Upon thine altar burnt? Cannot thy love Heighten a spirit to sound out thy praise As well as any she? Cannot thy Dove Outstrip their Cupid easily in flight? Or, since thy ways are deep, and still the fame, Will not a verse run smooth that bears thy name! Why doth that fire, which by thy power and might Each breast does feel, no braver fuel choose Than that, which one day, worms may chance refuse. Sure Lord, there is enough in thee to dry Oceans of ink; for, as the Deluge did Cover the earth, so doth thy Majesty: Each cloud distills thy praise, and doth forbid Poets to turn it to another use. Roses and lilies speak thee; and to make A pair of cheeks of them, is thy abuse Why should I women's eyes for crystal take? Such poor invention burns in their low mind Wh
Read more

A Fresh Perception

-
Image
  “In primitive times, when man awakes in a world that is newly created, poetry awakes with him. In the face of the marvellous things that dazzle and intoxicate him, his first speech is a hymn simply. He is still so close to God that all his meditations are ecstatic, all his dreams are visions. His bosom swells, he sings as he breathes. His lyre has but three strings—God, the soul, creation; but this threefold mystery envelopes everything, this threefold idea embraces everything. The earth is still almost deserted. . . . He leads that nomadic pastoral life with which all civilizations begin, and which is so well adapted to solitary contemplation, to fanciful reverie. He follows every suggestion, he goes hither and thither, at random. His thought, like his life, resembles a cloud that changes its shape and its direction according to the wind that drives it. Such is the first man, such is the first poet. He is young, he is cynical. Prayer is his sole religion, the ode is his only form of
Read more